Yes! Love Fanny and was thrilled to get to see them last year at an Asian Pacific Islander Arts Festival in San Francisco. They never got the notice and recognition they deserved. So glad they are back!
I wrote about the experience in the post linked below.
I love Fanny! Bought a couple of their LPs back in the day on the strength of reviews & the Todd connection, unfortunately I later sold them in an ill-advised LP 'purge' in the early 2000s.
Happily, I've been able to correct that error recently by picking up excellent reissues of their albums on the Real Gone Music label - anyone not familiar with Real Gone needs to go there right now & check out their amazing selection of LP & CD reissues! [https://realgonemusic.com/] Nice folks to deal with, too.
RG's most recent Fanny LP is from the band's 'Beat Club' appearances ca. 1971-72. They are live recordings though in-studio with no audience, similar to many of the BBC broadcasts. It's much rawer and rockin' than anything on their studio LPs - June Millington's guitar tone is (what's the rock critic word?) *incendiary* - crunchy and full of tube amp goodness, and the band amply proves that they were a great four-piece rock outfit with stunning vocal harmonies. No need for studio trickery or production to sound great, though of course Richard Perry and Todd both put their own stamp on the studio LPs they produced for the band.
I believe misogyny and the perception of 'novelty' did hinder their success in the '70s, but you're right that the usual record biz grind and lack of financial success probably played a bigger part in their demise. I'm happy to see them getting more attention these days as the groundbreakers they were, not to mention being a solid, accomplished rock band regardless of their gender.
Thanks for the Real Gone info. I must check them out.
I've been listening to a lot of Fanny tunes over the last day and wow were they good. I didn't know about them until now. I feel robbed of a role model I could have had back when I was in high school.
Regarding misogyny, there's a story I think June tells in the documentary about Richard Perry turning her guitar amp down from 6 to 2 when they were recording with Geoff Emerick at Apple Records -- something that would not be done to a male musician. When they asked Geoff what he did with the Beatles, he said George did what he wanted and he just miked it. Perry didn't touch the amp after that.
Also the label making them wear skimpy glam outfits, when they were more hard rock, which made them unhappy and uncomfortable.
I suspect that their label also let them down on the marketing side, and there's an allusion to this in the documentary, with Earl Slick mentioning that "You want a hit record, you know you gotta pay to get it on the radio, a lot of money." Were they willing to do this for this band? I just don't remember ever hearing them on the radio, so my guess is that they weren't and they didn't.
Which is why, if they didn't make it, first up to bat as the culprit, imho, was the music industry, which has hobbled or destroyed many musicians' careers (as Earl says). Less so sexism by other rock musicians, not that it didn't exist. And some rock critics and publications also weren't supportive of women rockers. But hard to Monday morning quarterback it over 50 years later, and I do know what the sexism and misogyny were like back in those days, so I can't deny that it might have been a key factor. They do mention the glass ceiling in the documentary, and I do wish they gave that more attention as it helps younger women on their way up who might encounter it. As Jean says, it still exists.
Another factor of their obscurity was the clear sexual implications of their name, obviously chosen for shock value. That may have contributed to Reprise dropping them and then Casablanca picking them up again.
Yes, you certainly have to wonder if the name made a difference to their success in the US.
What's funny is that they were wildly successful in the UK where fanny means 'vulva,' but the UK does not have the same Puritan values. My guess is that they loved the cheeky name.
Brilliant piece. I didn’t know this Newman song, and never heard Fanny’s cover of it, the live performance video is perfect, even down to the stage set. Brilliant.
Thanks, Nic. I respect your take on these things, so it's great to hear that.
If a band really kicks 'fanny' (in the American sense) when they play live, I think that shows they're the real deal as a performing 'band'. So I like to find live video when I can. Although I usually love the studio version too, so it's a struggle choosing.
I loved reading about Fanny’s groundbreaking journey, and Todd Rundgren's influence as a producer was both informative and engaging. The way you captured the spirit and struggles of this pioneering all-female rock band is both inspiring and engaging. Thank you for sharing.
The old story. “We love what you do but we will castrate it in the studio for commerciality “. Which is why I make my own music soup to nuts. For better and for worse.
Yes! Love Fanny and was thrilled to get to see them last year at an Asian Pacific Islander Arts Festival in San Francisco. They never got the notice and recognition they deserved. So glad they are back!
I wrote about the experience in the post linked below.
https://earworm.substack.com/p/recowmendations-may-2023-women-who?utm_source=publication-search
Great post, Steve! I read the Fanny part but want to give it a good read when I have some time.
It's so great that you got to see them in concert.
The documentary is really good, as you say, and I hope people watch it. Inspiring!
I love Fanny! Bought a couple of their LPs back in the day on the strength of reviews & the Todd connection, unfortunately I later sold them in an ill-advised LP 'purge' in the early 2000s.
Happily, I've been able to correct that error recently by picking up excellent reissues of their albums on the Real Gone Music label - anyone not familiar with Real Gone needs to go there right now & check out their amazing selection of LP & CD reissues! [https://realgonemusic.com/] Nice folks to deal with, too.
RG's most recent Fanny LP is from the band's 'Beat Club' appearances ca. 1971-72. They are live recordings though in-studio with no audience, similar to many of the BBC broadcasts. It's much rawer and rockin' than anything on their studio LPs - June Millington's guitar tone is (what's the rock critic word?) *incendiary* - crunchy and full of tube amp goodness, and the band amply proves that they were a great four-piece rock outfit with stunning vocal harmonies. No need for studio trickery or production to sound great, though of course Richard Perry and Todd both put their own stamp on the studio LPs they produced for the band.
I believe misogyny and the perception of 'novelty' did hinder their success in the '70s, but you're right that the usual record biz grind and lack of financial success probably played a bigger part in their demise. I'm happy to see them getting more attention these days as the groundbreakers they were, not to mention being a solid, accomplished rock band regardless of their gender.
Thanks for the Real Gone info. I must check them out.
I've been listening to a lot of Fanny tunes over the last day and wow were they good. I didn't know about them until now. I feel robbed of a role model I could have had back when I was in high school.
Regarding misogyny, there's a story I think June tells in the documentary about Richard Perry turning her guitar amp down from 6 to 2 when they were recording with Geoff Emerick at Apple Records -- something that would not be done to a male musician. When they asked Geoff what he did with the Beatles, he said George did what he wanted and he just miked it. Perry didn't touch the amp after that.
Also the label making them wear skimpy glam outfits, when they were more hard rock, which made them unhappy and uncomfortable.
I suspect that their label also let them down on the marketing side, and there's an allusion to this in the documentary, with Earl Slick mentioning that "You want a hit record, you know you gotta pay to get it on the radio, a lot of money." Were they willing to do this for this band? I just don't remember ever hearing them on the radio, so my guess is that they weren't and they didn't.
Which is why, if they didn't make it, first up to bat as the culprit, imho, was the music industry, which has hobbled or destroyed many musicians' careers (as Earl says). Less so sexism by other rock musicians, not that it didn't exist. And some rock critics and publications also weren't supportive of women rockers. But hard to Monday morning quarterback it over 50 years later, and I do know what the sexism and misogyny were like back in those days, so I can't deny that it might have been a key factor. They do mention the glass ceiling in the documentary, and I do wish they gave that more attention as it helps younger women on their way up who might encounter it. As Jean says, it still exists.
Another factor of their obscurity was the clear sexual implications of their name, obviously chosen for shock value. That may have contributed to Reprise dropping them and then Casablanca picking them up again.
Yes, you certainly have to wonder if the name made a difference to their success in the US.
What's funny is that they were wildly successful in the UK where fanny means 'vulva,' but the UK does not have the same Puritan values. My guess is that they loved the cheeky name.
This is a great read.
Thanks so much! Great band to write about.
Wow, I appreciate you posting the live video. Nickey Barclay (I assume) _performs_ the song so well.
Thanks, Nick. I thought Nickey and the band were great live. Apparently they were known for that.
I should watch the documentary. We've checked it out before, but haven't watched it.
I really enjoyed it and it's quite inspiring. Todd makes an appearance, which is fun.
Don’t remember Fanny but it sounds like they should be getting more recognition!
I didn't remember them either, but I've been catching up on a lot of their songs and they're great. Definitely deserve more recognition.
Brilliant piece. I didn’t know this Newman song, and never heard Fanny’s cover of it, the live performance video is perfect, even down to the stage set. Brilliant.
Thanks, Nic. I respect your take on these things, so it's great to hear that.
If a band really kicks 'fanny' (in the American sense) when they play live, I think that shows they're the real deal as a performing 'band'. So I like to find live video when I can. Although I usually love the studio version too, so it's a struggle choosing.
I loved reading about Fanny’s groundbreaking journey, and Todd Rundgren's influence as a producer was both informative and engaging. The way you captured the spirit and struggles of this pioneering all-female rock band is both inspiring and engaging. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you, Jon. It was my pleasure and I'm glad you found it as inspiring as I did.
Damn, these chicks rocked. Their demise is gut wrenching.
I feel the same way, Thea.
Thank you, I like Fanny very much hence I was very happy to read this. Not so often such extensive features are written about them.
Glad you were happy to read it. They definitely deserve to have much written about them.
This totally roqued! 🤘🏼A pity that Todd Rundgren neutered their sound in the studio.
Thanks, Trey. I understand June and Jean wanted a rawer sound, so they would probably agree with you.
The old story. “We love what you do but we will castrate it in the studio for commerciality “. Which is why I make my own music soup to nuts. For better and for worse.
Most of us seem to be going indie with our music, writing, art. Hopefully for the better!